What's Going On

On Jan. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., West Chester Friends School, 415 N. High St., will hold an Empty Bowl Dinner to benefit the West Chester Food Cupboard.

Restaurants and local organizations will be donating their time and items to the supper, and all of the students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will spend time on that Friday, the annual Day of Service, preparing for the dinner. The students will make placemats, information table tents, fold napkins and wash bowls.

Empty Bowl is a national effort to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in communities (www.emptybowls.org). Participants receive a simple supper -- bowl filled with soup, and bread.

Tickets are $10 per person, or $20 for families of two or more. To reserve tickets, contact Karen Iacobucci at 610-696-2820, or e-mail development@wcfriends.org.

The workshop will include topics ranging from pasture management to manure storage. Learn about the nutritional benefits and health risks associated with grazing; basics of forage growth, biology and identification; rotational grazing and stress lots. Also, learn how to identify common and toxic weeds found in pastures.

Cost is $45, which includes lunch and all course material. To register, call 610-746-1970.

The program will cover a vast array of ways to save money and stretch dollars at the grocery stores, pharmacies, and at a variety of sales and shops.

Laffey is a mother and has a following on her blog and website, www.chescofrugalliving.com where readers can print coupons and view daily deals and store match-ups. There is also a chat group where followers can swap money-saving tips.

The presentation, with questions and answers, is presented by Maggie Robertson, an organic farmer and regional representative for the Women’s Agricultural Network, and Carol Kuniholm, chairwoman of the Agricultural Committee of the Chester County League of Women Voters.

Call 484-678-8061.

Aspiring chefs, cosmetologists, nurses, engineers and others, are encouraged to explore career and technical opportunities at the three Technical College High School (TCHS) campuses’ Open Houses in January.

Brandywine Campus, 443 Boot Road, Downingtown, will open its doors from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23; on Thursday, Jan. 24, Pickering Campus, 1580 Charlestown Road, Phoenixville, will have its open house from 6 to 8 p.m., and Pennock’s Bridge location, 280 Pennock’s Bridge Road, West Grove, will host an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Prospective students and their families can tour the buildings, meet teachers and students, learn about the programs, and enjoy light refreshments provided by Culinary Arts students.

Applications are currently being accepted for all three TCHS campuses. Interested students can learn more and apply online by visiting www.technicalcollegehighschool.org.

Local restaurants have been invited to bring in soup and have their customers judge who has the best soup. The customer judges are being asked to donate $5 or three cans of soup which will be donated to the Lord’s Pantry of Downingtown.

The event may be viewed on the web site: www.waterloogardens.com/event?id=246. For information, call 610-363-0800.

Chester County Pops Orchestra will perform at Phoenixville Area Middle School, 1330 Main St., at 3 p.m., Jan. 26.

The program theme is “Picks of the Flicks,” movie soundtracks and more, with guest conductors Vincent Craig and Joe Gehring.

Tickets will be available online and at the door. Prices are $15, $12 for seniors; $5 for students and free to ages 12 and under. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Phoenixville Public Library.

For more information, visit www.chescopops.org or call 610-594-9178.

East Goshen Township Winter Indoor Farmers’ Market will be held the first and third Thursday of the month, Jan. 17, Feb. 1 and 15, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the township building, 1580 Paoli Pike, with multiple vendors selling farm produce, candy, cupcakes and baked goods, special dog treats, chili, soups and more.

For more information, call 610-692-7171.

Children in kindergarten through fourth grade, are invited to Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., from 4 to 5 p.m., Jan. 21, to celebrate Winnie the Pooh’s birthday.

The program will include fun stories, crafts, and a birthday snack.

For information or to register for this program, call Karen Smith at 610-269-2741.

Children can spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day by watching a film, “Stranger In The Woods,” the story of a snowman found in the woods, at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 21, at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon.

This family-friendly film is based on the best-selling book of the same title. After the half-hour movie, there will be a nature-inspired craft workshop.